The Thornhill Figure Skating Club offers various Podium Pathway programs. Please see below for general information about the Podium Pathway program along with the programs offered here at TFSC.
The Podium Pathway is Skate Canada’s competitive figure skating program, which is a part of Skate Canada’s Long-Term Development (LTD) framework. For general information regarding Skate Canada’s LTD, please see their website. Skate Canada’s LTD framework is based from Sport for Life’s Long-Term Development in Sport + Physical Activity 3.0. For information regarding Sport for Life’s Long-Term Development framework, please see their website.
The Podium Pathway program is for skaters in singles, pairs, and ice dance wishing to compete in qualifying events within Skate Canada.
Skaters enrolled in the Podium Pathway program with Skate Canada learn a variety of life skills as they progress up the competitive ladder. These include goal setting, focus, ability to deal with success/failure, time management and principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
In addition to the life skill benefits, skaters in this program receive:
Many skaters who compete in the qualifying event structure also take tests in Skate Canada’s STARSkate Program or participate on synchronized skating teams. Skaters within the Podium Pathway program may be restricted entry to STARSkate competitions as they are competing within the qualifying event system. There are several opportunities throughout the season for skaters to participate in competitive events.
The Skate Canada Podium Pathway program offers nationally standardized competitions to competitive skaters. These events are the stepping stones to things such as the National Team and the World and Olympic teams. Skaters competing in the qualifying event structure can do so at the Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior and Senior levels in singles, pairs, and ice dance.
Check out Skate Canada’s National Team Members along with their NextGen Team Members to see Canada’s top figure skaters within the Podium Pathway program.
Singles – Individual skaters combine the artistry of the sport along with the athleticism of the sport by performing jumps, spins, field moves, step sequences, and other elements in their routine to music.
Pair Skating (Pairs) – Pairs consists of 2 skaters skating together as a team. Teams will perform jumps, spins, field moves, step sequences along with specific elements to the discipline. These elements include throw jumps, lifts, pair spins, death spirals, among other elements that are performed side-by-side or in unison.
Ice Dance – Ice dance consists of 2 skaters skating together as a team. Unlike pairs, however, ice dancers focus on creating footwork and body movements that express dance on ice. This discipline focuses on the artistry of the sport, whereas other disciplines put more focus on the athleticism of the sport while still incorporating the artistic nature of the sport. Ice dance does not allow for singles and pairs elements such as jumps, pair lifts or throw jumps.
For more than a century, Skate Canada has been teaching Canadians how to figure skate while developing Olympic and World Champions in every era.
Pre-Juvenile & Juvenile – While these are the first levels of competitive figure skating, the Pre-Juvenile & Juvenile levels are a part of the Learn to Train stage within Skate Canada’s Long-Term Development and are not considered part of the Podium Pathway. Skaters at these levels, in singles, compete with 1 routine and are mastering all their double jumps.
Pre-Novice – Skaters are this level compete with 2 routines for the first time – their short and long program. Skaters at this level, in singles, are often landing all their double jumps including double Axel, and are continuing to master their triple jumps.
Novice – Skaters at this level, in singles, have mastered their double Axel with 3 to 4 triple jumps.
Junior – Skaters at this level, in singles, have mastered their triple jumps with men having mastered their triple Axel.
Senior – The highest level of figure skating. Skaters at this level, in singles, have mastered all triple jumps with men having mastered at least 2 quad jumps.
Want more information regarding levels within the Podium Pathway? Please check out Skate Canada’s website.
Thornhill is proud of our hard-working Podium Pathway athletes. Please see Our Champions for some of our past Podium Pathway champions!
At Thornhill, skaters are required to skate a minimum number of sessions per week depending on their level. Unless otherwise specified, lessons are not included in your fees paid to Thornhill and skaters must hire a coach. Please see Our Coaches for information regarding coaches and private lessons. Thornhill is primarily a Freeskate club.
Pre-Juvenile – This is the first level of competitive figure skating. Skaters this level at Thornhill FSC are required to skate a minimum of 4 sessions per week. Skaters at this level are typically landing most double jumps.
Juvenile – Skaters at this level are required to skate a minimum of 4 sessions per week. Skaters at this level are typically landing all their double jumps and are starting to work on their double Axel.
Pre-Novice – Skaters at this level at Thornhill FSC are required to skate a minimum of 5 sessions per week. Skaters at this level have mastered all their double jumps and are consistently working on their double Axel.
Elite – Skaters at this level are typically Novice skaters and above, with a minimum requirement of a consistently landed double Axel. TFSC Co-Directors have final say on whether a skater is eligible to move up to the Elite sessions. Skaters at this level at Thornhill FSC are required to skate a minimum of 5 sessions per week.
Our schedule may vary from season to season. Please check our online registration system, Amilia, for the most up to date information.